Heavy metals accumulation in tree leaves from urban areas
Abstract
Higher plants may be used as biomonitors for the assessment of atmospheric heavy metal pollution by means of their bioaccumulative properties. We evaluated the reliability of biomonitoring heavy metal pollution by horse chestnut and linden leaves, common species found in Belgrade city parks. The results show that the highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in horse chestnut leaves at Studentski Park site, amounting to 110.2, 20.3 and 4.9 μg g-1 dry weight for Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively, which are considered above toxic levels for plants.
Keywords:
Atmospheric deposition / Biomonitoring / Heavy metals / Tree leaves / Urban pollutionSource:
Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2004, 2, 3, 151-154Publisher:
- Springer Heidelberg, Heidelberg
Projects:
- Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Serbia, project number 1449.
DOI: 10.1007/s10311-004-0081-8
ISSN: 1610-3653